opti SPHEARE to Bring Optics and Hearing Care Professionals Together at opti 2027
Tuesday, November 10 2026 | 10 h 33 min | News
As optical practices continue to explore new ways to diversify their services, opti SPHEARE will return to opti 2027 with a focus on the growing intersection between optics and hearing care.
The platform will bring together opticians, hearing care professionals, combined practices and industry experts to examine how vision and hearing services can work together, whether under the same roof or through strategic partnerships.
According to opti organizers, the goal is not simply to promote expansion into new business areas, but to help professionals evaluate what approaches are most practical and sustainable for their individual businesses.
Exploring opportunities beyond traditional optics
Offering both optical and hearing care services involves more than adding an additional product category. Both professions rely heavily on personalized consultations, technical expertise and long-term customer relationships.
For optical practices considering hearing care services, key questions include staffing requirements, professional qualifications, investment costs and whether an in-house offering or a partnership model makes the most sense for their market.
Organizers note that hearing care represents a significant opportunity. Citing data from the EuroTrak hearing study, approximately 9.1 million people in Germany consider their hearing impaired, while more than half have not yet been fitted with hearing aids.
Supporting the growth of combined practices
For businesses already offering both services, the discussion shifts from implementation to optimization.
Topics at opti SPHEARE will include coordinating customer communication, improving consultation workflows and evaluating the contribution of optical and hearing care services to overall business performance.
The platform will also provide hearing care specialists with insights into opportunities for collaboration with optical businesses, offering a broader perspective on business development without necessarily requiring expansion into additional services.
Practical business insights take centre stage
The opti SPHEARE program will feature short presentations, panel discussions and real-world case studies from combined optical and hearing care practices.
Discussion topics will include:
- Investment and staffing requirements for adding hearing care services
- Integrating hearing and vision consultations
- Deciding between partnerships and in-house services
- Customer acquisition and long-term patient relationships
- Organizational changes required when introducing hearing care offerings
Returning as moderator is Michael Luikenga, a master craftsman qualified in both optics and hearing care, whose experience across both professions will help frame discussions around practical implementation.
According to Cathleen Kabashi, Director of opti, the relationship between optics and hearing care reflects the broader evolution of customer expectations, technologies and business models. Through opti SPHEARE, visitors will have an opportunity to assess which strategies are most relevant to their own practices and communities.
opti 2027 will take place in Munich, Germany, from January 29 to 31, 2027.
Source: opti
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